Lily Allen has spoken out against tabloid criticisms that her involvement in social issues is made disingenuous by her ‘rich’ and ‘privileged’ lifestyle.
Read more: Lily Allen: Laid Bare – The NME Big Read
Speaking to NME in an exclusive interview timed with the release of her great new album ‘No Shame’, Allen spoke on her divorce, Twitter and her relationship with the tabloids.
Speaking about the criticism she received following her outspoken support of the victims of the Grenfell Tower tragedy, Allen said of her ‘privileged’ labels: “Well, I’m a million pounds in debt, so put that in! But you know, there’s a reason that’s what they picked on [with Grenfell].”
She continued: “Because I haven’t been falling out of nightclubs for the last two years, they’ll say, ‘Well, she’s rich.’ If I’d been falling out of nightclubs, they wouldn’t bother with the rich thing – they’d just be like, ‘She’s a fucktard.’ So I think it’s whatever they can get with.”
Allen also spoke on the time she once nearly started a band with Alex Turner.
The singer started her pop career around the same time as Arctic Monkeys, releasing her debut album ‘Alright, Still‘ seven months after ‘Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not‘.
“We were meant to do a band together once, called Rupert The Band, me and Alex Turner,” she told NME. “I haven’t seen him for a long time. He lives in LA now. Avoiding tax. Yeah.”
Allen’s upcoming tour dates are below. Tickets are on sale from 10am on Friday June 8 and available here.
Tuesday December 11 2018 – DUBLIN Olympia Theatre
Thursday December 13 2018 – GLASGOW Barrowland
Friday December 14 2018 – BIRMINGHAM O2 Institute
Sunday December 16 2018 – MANCHESTER Albert Hall
Monday December 17 2018 – LONDON Roundhouse